School of Psychology & Counseling Practicum & Internship Handbook

School of Psychology & Counseling Practicum & Internship Handbook Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Program Majors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling School Counseling Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling School of Psychology & Counseling Regent University 1000 Regent University Drive Virginia Beach, Virginia 23464 Telephone: 757.352.4252 Fax: 757.352.4617 www.regent.edu/spc 1 August 28, 2015

Contents Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Program... 1 Acknowledgement of Handbook... 4 I. General Overview of Clinical Courses... 5 Introduction to Handbook... 5 Overview... 5 Primary Goals... 5 Student Objectives... 6 Student Competencies... 7 Accreditation Standards... 7 Practicum/Internship Site List... 7 Practicum/Internship Site Supervisory Fee... 8 Policy on in-home services for Practicum/Internship Placement... 8 Disciplinary and Professional Conduct Policy... 8 Premature Termination of Practicum/Internship Placement... 9 II. Practicum... 10 Practicum Summary... 10 Practicum Documentation... 10 M.A. Counseling Pre-Practicum Documentation... 11 Signed Contract for Practicum... 11 Practicum Registration... 11 Site Supervision... 12 Site Supervisor Requirements (CACREP 2009, p. 14)... 12 Faculty Group Supervision... 13 Recording/Live Observation Instructions... 13 III. Internship... 14 Internship Summary... 14 Masters Level Internship Programs... 14 Certificate of Graduate Studies Internship Programs... 15 Worksite Internship Policy... 17 Distance Internship Policy for On-Campus Students... 18 2 August 28, 2015

Internship Documentation... 18 M.A. Counseling Pre-Internship Documentation... 19 Personal Therapy and Group Therapy Requirements... 19 Signed Contract for Internship... 19 Internship Registration... 20 Additional Forms... 20 Site Supervision... 21 Site Supervisor Requirements (CACREP 2009, p. 14)... 21 Faculty Group Supervision... 22 Recording/Live Observation Instructions... 22 Instructions for Students Missing Hour Requirements... 22 Master s Level Conditions requiring Additional Internship Hours... 22 IV. Forms and Policies... 23 3 August 28, 2015

Acknowledgement of Handbook School of Psychology & Counseling This Handbook is provided to students and applicants for their general guidance only. It does not constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to change at the University s and/or the Program s discretion. All students are expected to read this Handbook and have a thorough understanding of its contents. Student should also be aware that they can discuss the Handbook and direct questions and concerns to their Faculty Advisor or the Program Chair regarding any material contained in the Handbook. Students agree to abide by all procedures, policies and guidelines in the Handbook. Students understand that this Handbook may be modified from time to time as University or Program policies, procedures and guidelines are implemented or changed and that it is their responsibility to review the Handbook from time to time in order to remain current with its contents. 4 August 28, 2015

I. General Overview of Clinical Courses Introduction to Handbook This handbook provides students with information related to practicum and internship within the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Program [majors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC); School Counseling; and Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling (MCFC)] as well as the Certificate of Graduate Studies Programs [majors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC); Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling (MCFC); Trauma Counseling, and School Counseling]. It is important for all students to become familiar with the practicum/internship requirements prior to enrollment in the program. The handbook contains a link to the Practicum and Internship required forms. Please feel free to contact the Field Placement Liaison or Counseling Clinical Coordinator with additional questions, concerns, or comments that are not addressed in this handbook. In an effort to continually enhance the process of our Practicum and Internship experience, this handbook may undertake revisions periodically so that current and accurate information is provided to the students. When this occurs, students will be notified through appropriate methods (i.e. email announcements, classroom notifications, website notices, etc.). Overview The practicum and internship processes provide practical experience and supervision in areas consistent with academic and professional goals of masters counseling students. These field practices provide for advanced, real-world experience with delivery of counseling services. Both the Practicum and Internship courses focus on the experiential learning characteristic of clinical experience in which students practice skills and attitudes reflective of basic or advanced training and education in the discipline of counseling. Students will be given the opportunity to continue to develop competency in chosen counseling dimension(s) through regular, supervised practice at their approved site. These courses are designed to prepare students to be leaders in the profession of counseling and/or counselor education in both Christian and secular settings. Clinical practica and internships in the School of Psychology and Counseling include face-to-face sessions with clients, classroom instruction, individual, triadic, and group supervision, and noncounseling related duties on-site. These field experiences can range from community to university and school settings. All clinical practices require professional supervision by qualified mental health or school counseling professionals. For students who are not already licensed, these hours will count towards their counseling licensure or school counseling certification requirements. Primary Goals Making a difference in the world requires that counselors who practice from the Christian perspective have well-developed skills. Practicum/internship experiences establish an ongoing advanced-level framework for continuing to develop sound skills in counseling, counselor education, supervision, and consultation. The School of Psychology and Counseling aspires to facilitate the development of students who can blend biblical wisdom with effective clinical knowledge. The acquisition of these skills is vital to helping the individual, family, church and community. Please note the following objectives: 1. Acquisition of advanced skills in counseling that are informed by both Judeo-Christian principles and empirical research. 5 August 28, 2015

2. Demonstration of sensitivity to, respect for, and honoring of differing backgrounds and values of clients, supervisees, counseling students and/or consultees including different faith traditions, ethnicities, gender issues, sexual orientation issues, and values systems. 3. Understanding the use of biblical concepts in thought, word and action in practicum/internship settings. 4. Recognizing the understanding and forgiveness of our Lord in relation to the acceptance and wounded state of others. 5. Knowing, analyzing and synthesizing the ethical codes of the counseling discipline and practicing the ethical behaviors and decision-making that are required of counseling professionals and foundational to the scripture-guided life. 6. Demonstration of proficiency in the use of technology by use of library / electronic databases to perform research, use online technology for discussions and real-time group supervision, and exploration of the Internet to identify resources (e.g., professional organizations, professional writings). 7. Compliance with current legal requirements related to client confidentiality defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 8. Demonstration of competent and complete record-keeping skills, as required by clinical sites appropriate records related to supervision or consultation. 9. Demonstration of advanced writing skills in professional counseling pursuits, including but not limited to psychosocial histories, diagnoses, assessment, treatment planning. 10. Demonstration of biblically-based leadership skills pertinent to the profession of counseling by: Demonstrating a commitment to personal, professional and spiritual development. Articulating a personal philosophy about counseling. Demonstrating multicultural sensitivity and respect for all participants in a setting related to the profession of counseling. Demonstrating ethical and professional behavior in all aspects of the profession of counseling. Student Objectives 1. To provide competent behavioral health services to the clientele of the counseling practicum or internship site. The fundamental ethic of any counselor is to do no harm (nonmaleficence). It is the responsibility of the practicum/internship student to: Function as a member of a team with faculty and site supervisors regarding methods of treatment, planning, implementation, and documentation of interventions. Discuss the range of therapeutic techniques consistent with a student s skill appropriate for a presenting problem. Observe and document the nuances of client behavior. 2. To critically evaluate his/her skill and comfort level within the full range of professional behaviors on-site. 3. To develop a mastery of counseling specializations, where the students move towards proficiency and a comprehensive performance in clinical, supervisorial, educational, and consultative settings. This experience will require the student to articulate and demonstrate a plurality of theoretical interventions which are most consistent with his/her principles and client/student needs. 6 August 28, 2015

Student Competencies 1. The student will evaluate his/her level of professional competencies in working with individuals, couples, families, students, supervisors, experiencing the full range of client and professional concerns. This will be accomplished through: The identification of student goals for the practicum/internship course(s) based on skill assessments. The communication of professional goals to the professor in order to develop educational interventions. Midterm evaluation of professional competencies, and the formation of new goals and interventions. Final evaluation of professional competencies. 2. The student will increase their level of professional competencies through the following activities: Practice counseling skills with clients or students. Review client through audio/video recordings and prepare a written treatment plan(s) for the subsequent sessions based on the events. Research and demonstrate new skills relevant to the specific needs of clients. Observe and conduct peer reviews in order to foster feedback and collaboration that ultimately leads to greater productivity. Demonstrate the ability to behave therapeutically. 3. The student will grow in their self-perceptions as a mental health professional and develop an identity as a professional counselor in order to: Receive individual supervision weekly, including faculty group supervision through clinical homework. Read and discuss literature relevant to work experience and developmental goals. Participate in professional development seminars, workshops and conferences. 4. The student will be able to identify ethical issues, discuss them, and act appropriately to: DSM-V diagnostic issues pertinent to their cases. Crisis and emergency ethical issues as they arise. Comply with the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, and/or the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics. Accreditation Standards The Counseling Programs in the School of Psychology and Counseling (SPC) have been developed to meet or exceed the 2009 Standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). As such, the masters counseling practicum/internship experiences are required to complete the student s respective degree program. Practicum/Internship Site List The SPC Field Placement Site List, located on the School of Psychology and Counseling web page, provides students with placement options in a variety of school and community settings. Each of the sites displayed has either hosted a Regent student in the past or expressed an interest in doing so. The site list is not comprehensive and students are not limited to selecting individuals or organizations contained within it. 7 August 28, 2015

On-campus and online students who live in the Hampton Roads area must receive permission from the Field Placement Liaison (FPL) prior to contacting any sites on the list for practicum and internship. Students are required to submit their top three site choices to the FPL. Any packet that is submitted without three sites will not be considered. Practicum/Internship Site Supervisory Fee Students are advised that if their desired practicum/internship site charges a supervisory overhead fee as a condition of hosting the student at that site, Regent University will arrange the payment of the fee for documentation purposes and the student will be invoiced for the fee through their student account. Policy on in-home services for Practicum/Internship Placement In-home services constitute a different experience than a traditional counseling environment in that counselors visit children/students and conduct clinical services within the child/student s home. In-home sites will not be approved for practicum placement. In order to maintain safety from harm and sufficient supervision for such counseling experiences, in-home sites will need to meet the following conditions to be considered for approval as an internship site: 1. The site supervisor or in-home counselor designee (a licensed in-home counselor who serves in a supervisory capacity for the student) must have a clear and demonstrable policy for how visits to the respective child/student s homes will occur. 2. The internship site s policies and procedures for managing supervision in an in-home environment must be submitted to the Counseling Clinical Coordinator for review. 3. The counseling student is considered for all intents and purposes to be primarily a student and not an employee of the agency, even if the agency trains and equips the student within their own parameters as an employee (e.g., employment and policy training, background checks, etc.) If the above conditions are not met, an in-home agency may not be considered for internship. However, in-home service internship placements will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Students will need to submit an academic petition to the Field Placement Liaison for approval and review by the Counseling Clinical Coordinator. In-home services placements will not be approved without the submission of an academic petition. Disciplinary and Professional Conduct Policy Faculty, training staff, and clinical supervisors have a professional and ethical responsibility to: Evaluate the interpersonal competence and emotional well-being of student trainees who are under their supervision, and who provide services to clients and consumers. Ensure, insofar as possible, that the trainees who complete their programs are competent to manage future relationships (e.g., client, collegial, professional, public, scholarly, supervisory, teaching, etc.) in an effective and appropriate manner. Critically consider program completion for students with issues or problems (e.g., cognitive, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, technical, and ethical) that may interfere with professional competence to other programs, the profession, employers, or the public at large because of this commitment. Students enrolled in Internship classes may be given a failing grade or withdrawn from their current Internship if any of the following apply: A student cannot have more than one absence per semester or they will receive a failing grade for Internship. 8 August 28, 2015

Inadequate, incomplete, or unacceptable Case Study presentations (as determined by the Instructor/Faculty Supervisor). Disciplinary actions that are the result of unprofessional/unethical conduct either at the Internship site or in the classroom and/or failure to comply with directions and consultation given by either the Faculty Supervisor or any Site Supervisor. All disciplinary problems will be documented on a Professional Development Form (PDF). If the Faculty Supervisor determines that the student s current emotional, mental or physical wellbeing compromises the integrity of the Internship experience or potentially places the student or others in harm s way or in an unduly vulnerable position. All such cases will be brought to the attention of the Program Chair. If there is a question or concern of competency in areas such as (but not limited to): Interpersonal and professional competence (e.g., the ways in which a student relates to clients, peers, faculty, allied professionals, the public, and individuals from diverse backgrounds or histories) Self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation (e.g., knowledge of the content and potential impact of one's own beliefs and values on clients, peers, faculty, allied professionals, the public, and individuals from diverse backgrounds or histories) Openness to processes of supervision (e.g., the ability and willingness to explore issues that either interfere with the appropriate provision of care or impede professional development or functioning) Resolution of problems or issues that interfere with professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner (e.g., by responding constructively to feedback from supervisors or program faculty; by participating in personal therapy in order to resolve problems or issues) If any of the above criteria are applicable, students may be subject to the Professional Competency policy and guidelines found in the Counseling Clinical Program Handbook. Premature Termination of Practicum/Internship Placement When a practicum or internship placement ends prior to its planned conclusion, this policy is intended to clarify the School of Psychology & Counseling s (SPC) response to premature termination. There are three conditions: 1. Placement ends due to the site supervisor or site s responsibility a. Site placement ends due to site supervisor/site not adequately or effectively managing site responsibilities in accordance with Regent University SPC Practicum/Internship policies 2. Placement ends due to student responsibility a. Student is terminated from the site for not complying with site policies and procedures or for displaying unethical conduct in interactions with clients, supervisor, or other site personnel b. Student is unable to complete or fulfill obligations to the site 3. Placement ends with no fault or responsibility of the site or the student a. Placement ends due to the site being closed Options for SPC response: Condition # 1: Clinical Coordinator and Field Placement Liaison will work expeditiously to assist the student in finding a new practicum/internship site in accordance with Regent SPC policy. Condition # 2: Student will receive a Professional Development Form (PDF) in accordance with Regent policy indicating the reasons/rationale for practicum/internship premature termination and a remediation plan. A potential outcome or consequence of this premature termination may be a No Pass (NP) grade. 9 August 28, 2015

Condition #3: Clinical Coordinator and Field Placement Liaison will work expeditiously to assist the student in finding a new practicum/internship site in accordance with Regent SPC policy. II. Practicum Practicum Summary According to the Regent University Faculty & Academic Policy Handbook (2014, p. 148), students must successfully complete 12 credit hours within their respective degree programs with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and have approval from the faculty practicum director (Field Placement Liaison or Counseling Clinical Coordinator in the SPC) to be eligible to register for a practicum. Practicum (COUN 523) is often the first counseling experience for students in the masters counseling programs. As such students are expected to generally observe and co-facilitate counseling situations using their basic attending skills and questioning techniques. M.A. practicum takes place in clinical community or K-12 school settings. Students complete a minimum of 100 clock hours during their Practicum spread over the majority of the semester. This one semester, field experience is composed of the following (CACREP, 2009, p. 15): 1. A minimum of 40 hours direct service counseling (i.e. individual/group/family therapy, pre-k through 12 th grade, counseling observation, psycho/educational activities, school-wide, classroom guidance, etc.) 2. The remainder of the 100 hours will be used for indirect services (writing clinical case notes, attending staff meetings, performing clerical duties, participating in faculty/site supervision, etc.) 3. One hour of weekly individual and/or triadic supervision by a faculty supervisor or supervised teaching assistant. 4. Student submission of 5 audio/video recordings or 2 live observation evaluation forms of direct counseling experiences 5. Student submission of midterm and final evaluations with appropriate time logs. During the practicum course, students must receive weekly individual and/or triadic (no more than two supervisees to one supervisor) supervision provided by a qualified, approved local supervisor; per CACREP standards. Failure to meet practicum hour requirements will result in a non-passing (NP) grade unless an academic petition is signed and approved by the student s Practicum Faculty Supervisor and/or Counseling Clinical Coordinator/Program Coordinator. Students meeting these conditions will need to develop an individualized practicum completion plan with their Practicum Faculty Supervisor and provide a copy of this plan to the Field Placement Liaison and Counseling Clinical Coordinator prior to continuing practicum. Practicum Documentation Students are required to submit paperwork related to pre-practicum to the Field Placement Liaison by the semester deadlines. The School of Psychology & Counseling (SPC) requires critical paperwork such as Nationwide Criminal Background Checks and Liability Insurance coverage for every student throughout the duration of his or her program. 10 August 28, 2015

It is the student s responsibility to make sure the paperwork gets to the Field Placement Liaison in a timely manner. Failure to submit completed paperwork related to the student s prospective course by posted deadlines will result in student s being denied approval to participate in the course requested until it is next available. These items include: M.A. Counseling Pre-Practicum Documentation Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling OR Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling Candidacy Checklist for M.A. Counseling Practicum Criminal Background Check Disclosure Form Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement Liability Insurance (with appropriate state coverage) Master of Arts in School Counseling Candidacy Checklist for M.A. Counseling Practicum Criminal Background Check Disclosure Form Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement Liability Insurance (with appropriate state coverage) TB Test Results School Placement Request Form (for a middle school) Signed Contract for Practicum Before a student can begin serving at the practicum site, he/she must have a signed contract. Essentially, the contract is an agreement between the licensed supervisor and the student, reflecting all of the clinical or school counseling activities to be conducted. Practicum Registration The Field Placement Liaison (FPL) and Counseling Clinical Coordinator will assist students in identifying potential community, university, and school placements; nonetheless, it is ultimately the student s responsibility to secure placement for his/her practicum. Identifying and interviewing with sites can take months so students are encouraged to start contacting sites as soon as they receive permission from the Field Placement Liaison. At the same time, students need to be open to a variety of clinical experiences. If a student pursues a site not on the Practicum Site list, it must first be approved by the Field Placement Liaison before a student can have his/her practicum contract approved. Registration for practicum requires the following steps: 1. Attend the Practicum Orientation meeting held one semester prior to beginning this course. These meetings will take place during residency or be done via e-mail for online students. 2. Complete the required pre-practicum paperwork prior to the reported deadlines. You may not contact sites or interview for placement unless this is on file. 3. On-campus and online students who are local to the Regent University campus will use the SPC Field Placement Site List to submit their top 3 site choices to the Field Placement Liaison. These site choices MUST accompany the pre-practicum paperwork. The FPL will let students know if 11 August 28, 2015

and when they can contact a site to set up an interview. Students will check with the FPL if they wish to pursue placement with a site not on the list. 4. Online students who are not local to the Regent University campus will submit information on their top 3 site choices to the FPL. These site choices MUST accompany the pre-practicum paperwork. This information will include the name of the site, physical street address and a website if the potential site has one. The FPL will review this information and then give each student permission to start contacting sites on their own. Students will follow directions in that e- mail on how to proceed. 5. All students seeking placement within public and private K-12 school settings must submit the appropriate school placement request form to the FPL with the pre-practicum paperwork (only one request form, one school system per student). The FPL will submit an official Regent University placement request on the student s behalf. Students will receive school placement information via e-mail from the FPL. 6. Once the documentation above is complete and students are cleared to contact sites by the FPL, it is the student s responsibility to complete the practicum contract by the posted deadlines. The contract is the key that allows a student to be approved for registration in the Practicum and Advanced Skills class. Site Supervision Students will regularly interact with their site (local) supervisor for guidance and planning related to their practicum activities. This is especially important if emergent situations arise that requires immediate attention by the student and/or the supervisor (e.g., suspected suicidal ideation of a client). It is important for students to remember that their local supervisor(s) will provide the greater part of their supervision during the on-site aspect of practicum. As such, it is critical that the student seek out and obtain the services of well-trained and highly qualified local supervisors. During the semester preceding practicum, it is important that students seek out a supervisor with an appropriate license (e.g., LPC, LMFT, LCSW, etc.) or certification (Pupil Personnel Services, Post-Graduate Professional, etc.). Site supervisors do not have to physically be present at the clinical or school site for the practicum field experience though this is ideal. Local supervisors must provide an average of one hour of individual or triadic face-to-face supervision on a weekly basis. Students may have to pay for this supervision, and this is a cost the student is expected to bear. Site Supervisor Requirements (CACREP 2009, p. 14) NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to know the standards of their respective state board to make sure their supervisor is qualified. Site supervisors must meet the minimum requirements as set forth by the Board of Counseling for their specific state. In the Virginia Board of Counseling, all on-site supervisors must be licensed by their respective state board (e.g., Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or Medicine), or licensed as a School Counselor by the respective Board of Education for their state. Sites without a licensed supervisor will not be allowed to serve as internship sites. Given that different states have varying requirements for direct/indirect hours and supervision hours, it is the responsibility of the student to know the standards of their respective state board to make sure their supervisor is licensed and qualified to supervise. Practicum faculty supervisors will be communicating with site supervisor(s) on a regular basis, in order to coordinate supervision and provide the most meaningful and helpful supervision experience for their 12 August 28, 2015

students. For online programs, the faculty supervisor will contact the site supervisor by telephone two (2) times during the semester; once at midterm and once prior to final evaluations concerning the student s overall progress, specific issues or concerns. Faculty members in the on campus program will conduct field visits a minimum of once per semester. Students must receive weekly individual and/or triadic (no more than two supervisees to one supervisor) supervision provided by a licensed, approved local supervisor; per CACREP 2009 standards. The preference for individual or triadic supervision differs by state so students will need to review the standards of their respective state counseling board or department of education. Faculty Group Supervision During the Practicum, students will also participate in regular, scheduled group supervision sessions in a classroom format. Group supervision involves a tutorial and mentoring relationship between a member of the counseling profession and more than two counseling students (CACREP, 2009, p. 62). Group Supervision in the classroom cannot exceed 12 students per one faculty member or teaching assistant. Practicum students can count one and a half (1.5) hours of faculty supervision (class time) every week towards group supervision. For on campus students, this will be time spent in the classroom. For online students, this will be accomplished using an online classroom in Blackboard. This requirement is part of our program s commitment to meeting or exceeding the CACREP master s level standards and guidelines. These standards must be upheld. If any reference is made regarding an individual, group, family, or student(s) during the on-campus class or as a posted commentary in the online classroom, the practicum student must ensure that the identity of the individual, group, family, or student is kept confidential. This can most easily be accomplished by avoiding the use of individuals names, or by indicating that individuals names are fictitious. This is an important compliance issue with HIPAA, AACC, and ACA regulations. This goes beyond what HIPAA requires (e.g., not using student names), but the Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling believes it is the best practice to preserve anonymity at all costs. Recording/Live Observation Instructions Complete 5 audio/video recorded counseling sessions with clients from the practicum site. If a practicum site and/or clients will not consent to recordings, these 5 sessions will be completed with a practice partner from the practicum class. In this instance, the site supervisor will need to complete two Live Observation Evaluation forms, with one being due at the midterm point in the semester and the other at the final point in the semester. 13 August 28, 2015

III. Internship Internship Summary Counseling internship is a planned, field-based clinical experience following practicum where a student works with clients or students under supervision in order to further develop or refine their therapeutic skills in real-world settings. Students must be in good academic standing and complete no less than onethird (1/3) of their program course requirements to be eligible for internship (Regent University Faculty & Academic Policy Handbook, 2014, p. 145) Internship is a 600 hour (minimum) multi-semester experience. All internship experiences share the following characteristics (CACREP, 2009 p. 15-16): 1. An emphasis on direct counseling experiences primarily by the student. 2. Weekly interaction that averages one hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision throughout the internship, usually performed by the on-site supervisor. 3. An average of one and half (1 ½) hours per week of group supervision provided on a regular schedule throughout the internship and performed by a program faculty member. 4. The opportunity for the student to become familiar with a variety of professional activities and resources in addition to direct service (e.g., record keeping, assessment instruments, supervision, information and referral, in-service and staff meetings). 5. The opportunity for the student to develop program-appropriate audio/video recordings for use in supervision or to receive live supervision of his or her interactions with clients. 6. Evaluation of the student s counseling performance throughout the internship, including documentation of a formal evaluation after the student completes the internship by a program faculty member in consultation with the site supervisor. The 600 clock hours can include supervised experiences in a clinical or K-12 th grade school setting, based on certain criteria. Students can only collect hours toward the internship in which they are currently enrolled. Students will be expected to complete at least 300 clock hours each semester within the M.A. Counseling programs. NOTE: Master s level students participating in a two-semester 600 clock hour CMHC or MCF internship are required to complete both semesters of internship at the same clinical site. Masters Level Internship Programs Clinical Mental Health Counseling Interns CMHC interns will complete two 300 clock hour internships (for a total of at least 600 hours). These hours are comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 240 hours (120 per semester) of face-to-face individual, and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 600 hours to include report writing, agency meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision each semester (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 20 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout both semesters (approximately one hour per week). Students are responsible for knowing if their state accepts individual or triadic supervision for licensure. 14 August 28, 2015

Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling Interns MCF interns will complete two 300 clock hour internships (for a total of at least 600 hours). At least HALF (300) of these total hours must be spent working with couples and families. These hours are comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 240 hours (120 per semester) of face-to-face couples, family, individual, and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. At least HALF (120) of the direct service hours must be spent working with couples and families. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 600 hours to include report writing, agency meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision each semester (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 20 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout both semesters (approximately one hour per week). Students are responsible for knowing if their state accepts individual or triadic supervision for licensure. School Counseling Interns School Counseling Interns will complete two 300 clock hour internships (for a total of at least 600 hours); one with PreK 6 th grades (elementary school) and one with 7 th 12 th grades (high school). These hours are comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 240 hours (120 per semester) of face-to-face individual and group counseling, testing, guidance, consulting, etc. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 600 hours to include report writing, school meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision each semester (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 20 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout both semesters (approximately one hour per week). Certificate of Graduate Studies Internship Programs Note: Certificate of Graduate Studies (CGS) students, having earned a licensure-track master s degree from another university, may not begin internship until at least the second semester in the certificate program. CGS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling CGS in CMHC interns will complete one 300 clock hour internship comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 120 hours of face-to-face individual and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 300 hours to include report writing, agency meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 10 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout the semester (approximately one hour per week). Students are responsible for knowing if their state accepts individual or triadic supervision for licensure. 15 August 28, 2015

CGS in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling CGS in MCF interns will complete one 300 clock hour internship, with all hours spent working with couples and families. These hours are comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 120 hours of face-to-face couples, family, individual, and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 300 hours to include report writing, agency meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 10 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout the semester (approximately one hour per week). Students are responsible for knowing if their state accepts individual or triadic supervision for licensure. CGS in Trauma Counseling CGS in Trauma Counseling interns will complete one 300 clock hour internship comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 120 hours of face-to-face individual and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. At least 60% of the clients the intern works with must have experienced some sort of trauma. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 300 hours to include report writing, agency meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 10 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout the semester (approximately one hour per week). Students are responsible for knowing if their state accepts individual or triadic supervision for licensure. CGS in School Counseling CGS in School Counseling interns will complete one 300 clock hour internship in a middle school setting, which is defined as a school that houses students in 6 th 8 th grades. These hours are comprised of the following: Direct Service: a minimum of 200 hours 100 hours spent working with 6 th grade students AND 100 hours spent working with 7 th & 8 th grade students. This will include face-to-face individual and group counseling, testing, guidance, consulting, etc. Indirect Service: the remainder of the 300 hours to include report writing, school meetings, supervision, professional development, staff meetings, in-services, etc. Supervision: included in indirect service hours. Interns will have approximately 24 hours of faculty group supervision (classes meet for 3 hours every other week). Interns must have a minimum of 10 hours of individual/triadic site supervision throughout the semester (approximately one hour per week). Alternative Ways to Satisfy Certificate of Graduate Studies Internship Students who are pursuing a CGS in either CMHC, MCF, or Trauma Counseling in addition to a master s degree at Regent University have the option of counting one semester of their degree program internship to fulfill the one required by the CGS. There are no alternative options for satisfying the internship required by the CGS in School Counseling. The following requirements must be met: 16 August 28, 2015

CGS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: intern must spend at least 300 total hours AND 120 direct service hours providing individual and group counseling, testing, consulting, etc. in a clinical setting. CGS in Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling: intern must spend at least HALF (i.e., 300) of their total hours and at least HALF (i.e., 120) of their direct service hours working with couples and families in a clinical setting. CGS in Trauma Counseling: intern must have a client caseload that consists of at least 60% who have experienced some sort of trauma. Interns will request a letter from their site supervisor (on letterhead) stating that the requirements have been met. Please forward this letter to the Field Placement Liaison who will inform you when this has been approved. Worksite Internship Policy In accordance with the Regent University Faculty & Academic Policy Handbook (2014, p.145), the internship shall be a new and educationally rewarding experience for the student rather than a repeat of previous or current work experience. This generally means that a student s current employment duties at his or her work site will not qualify as an internship. The student may use his or her current work site as an internship site if the student can demonstrate that internship responsibilities will be separate and not related to his or her current paid work responsibilities. The internship hours must extend beyond the current work hours. If a student wishes to use his/her current work site the following must be submitted: Academic petition stating the reason(s) for the request and two letters from the site addressed to the Field Placement Liaison or the Counseling Clinical Coordinator Letter # 1 should be from the employment supervisor and should include the following information: A listing of current job responsibilities Statement that employment responsibilities will be separate from internship responsibilities and that the employment supervisor will help to ensure that these responsibilities will remain separate Statement listing who the employment supervisor is and who the internship supervisor is (and that they are different people). Letter # 2 should be from the internship supervisor and should include the following information: How the work the intern will do fulfills the requirements of the university field experience A written job description of the internship activities, duties, hours, and direct contact time that will be undertaken by the intern to fulfill on-site internship requirements A statement regarding dual relationships at the site Statement that the site and supervisors understand they are not required to pay the intern for at least the required 600 hours since the internship experience is a graduation requirement Statement listing who the employment supervisor is and who the internship supervisor is (and that they are different people). A student may choose an internship site that pays their interns as part of their standard policy. If a student wishes to have an internship at such a site, then an Academic Petition and a letter are still required. The letter should include information as listed in letter # 2 above but does not need to mention dual relationships or state that the supervisors will be different. 17 August 28, 2015

***The letter(s) must be from the site on site letterhead (NOT from the student) and should be addressed to the Field Placement Liaison or the Counseling Clinical Coordinator. *** The academic petition must be approved before obtaining a signed contract and beginning the internship. The Counseling Clinical Coordinator makes the final decision as to the appropriateness of the request. Distance Internship Policy for On-Campus Students Out of area internships for on-campus students are subject to a stringent application process and supervision requirements in order to ensure that students successfully complete their degree program. 1. A distance internship is defined as one that is 75 miles or more from the Regent University campus. 2. Arrangements for an out of area internship must be completed three (3) months prior to the beginning of the internship (This will include a contract signed by the site supervisor). There will be no exceptions to this regulation. The application process must begin six (6) months in advance to facilitate the completion of all requirements prior to the three (3) month deadline. All other course work and the CPCE Exit Exam must be completed prior to beginning the internship and the applicant must meet the prescribed regulations for the internship as indicated in the student s Practicum & Internship Handbook. In addition, the applicant must be proficient in computer technology and have a computer with the capacity to perform the required assignments. Students must initiate the process by making an appointment with the Counseling Clinical Coordinator six (6) months in advance to discuss the feasibility of a distance internship. The purpose of the meeting is to notify and discuss with the Clinical Coordinator the intent of pursuing a distance internship. After meeting with the Counseling Clinical Coordinator, the student must begin the distance internship candidacy process. The student will submit the required pre-internship paperwork by the posted deadline. Once paperwork has been submitted, the student will consult with the Field Placement Liaison on how to secure a site. The Counseling Clinical Coordinator, in consultation with the student s advisor and faculty, will determine the feasibility on a case-by-case-basis. This determination will be based on the student's academic record, computer technology and skills, ability to work independently, history of timely completion of assignments, access to communication with the site supervisors, and the appropriateness of the internship site. After permission has been granted for a distance internship and before the 3-month deadline, the student will secure a contract signed by the site supervisor and will complete all final arrangements for the internship. Internship Documentation Students are required to submit paperwork related to pre-internship to the Field Placement Liaison by the semester deadlines. The School of Psychology & Counseling (SPC) requires critical paperwork such as Nationwide Criminal Background Checks and Liability Insurance coverage for every student throughout the duration of his or her program. It is the student s responsibility to make sure the paperwork gets to the Field Placement Liaison in a timely manner. Failure to submit completed paperwork related to the student s prospective course by posted deadlines will result in student s being denied approval to participate in the course requested until it is next available. 18 August 28, 2015

M.A. Counseling Pre-Internship Documentation Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling OR Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling Candidacy Checklist for M.A. Counseling Internship Criminal Background Check Disclosure Form (this should be on file from Practicum) Unofficial Transcript (printed from Genisys) Course Pre-Requisite Form Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement Liability Insurance (with appropriate state coverage) Personal Counseling Verification Form (see separate deadline for this) Master of Arts in School Counseling Candidacy Checklist for M.A. Counseling Internship Criminal Background Check Disclosure From (this should be on file from Practicum) Unofficial Transcript (printed from Genisys) Course Pre-Requisite Form Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement Liability Insurance (with appropriate state coverage) Personal Counseling Verification From (see separate deadline for this) TB Test Results School Placement Request Form Certificate of Graduate Studies in CMHC, MCF, or Trauma Counseling Candidacy Checklist for CGS Internship Criminal Background Check Form Unofficial Transcript (printed from Genisys) Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement Certificate of Graduate Studies in School Counseling Candidacy Checklist for CGS Internship Criminal Background Check Form Unofficial Transcript (printed from Genisys) Course Pre-Requisite Form Waiver of Liability Student Ethical Agreement School Placement Request From (must be a middle school) TB Test Results Personal Therapy and Group Therapy Requirements Students are required to fulfill the Personal Therapy and Group Therapy requirements before they begin their first semester of Internship. See details of this policy in the MA in Counseling Program Handbook. Signed Contract for Internship Before a student can begin serving at the internship site, he/she must have a signed contract. Essentially, the contract is an agreement between the licensed supervisor and the student, reflecting all of the clinical or school counseling activities to be conducted. 19 August 28, 2015

Internship Registration The Field Placement Liaison (FPL) and Counseling Clinical Coordinator will assist students in identifying potential community, university, and school placements; nonetheless, it is ultimately the student s responsibility to secure placement for his/her internship. Identifying and interviewing with sites can take months so students are encouraged to start contacting sites as soon as they receive permission from the Field Placement Liaison. At the same time, students need to be open to a variety of clinical experiences. If a student pursues a site not on the Internship Site list, it must first be approved by the Field Placement Liaison before a student can have his/her internship contract approved. Registration for internship requires the following steps: 1. Attend the Internship Orientation meeting one semester prior to beginning this course. These meetings will take place during residency or be done via e-mail for online students. 2. Complete the required pre-internship paperwork prior to the reported deadlines. You may not contact a site or interview for placement unless this is on file. 3. On-campus and online students who are local to the Regent University campus will use the SPC Field Placement List to submit their top 3 site choices to the Field Placement Liaison. These site choices MUST accompany the pre-internship paperwork. The FPL will let students know if and when they can contact a site to set up an interview. Students will check with the FPL if they wish to pursue placement with a site not on the list. 4. Online students who are not local to the Regent University campus will submit information on their top 3 site choices to the FPL. These site choices MUST accompany the pre-internship paperwork. This information will include the name of the site, physical street address, and a website if the potential site has one. The FPL will review this information and then give each student permission to start contacting sites on their own. Students will follow directions in that e- mail on how to proceed. 5. All students seeking placement within public and private K-12 school settings must submit the appropriate school placement request form to the FPL with the pre-internship paperwork (only one request form, one school system per student). The FPL will submit an official Regent University placement request on the student s behalf. Students will receive school placement information via e-mail from the FPL. 6. Once the documentation above is completed and students are cleared to contact sites by the FPL, it is the student s responsibility to complete their internship contract by the posted deadlines. The contract is the key that allows a student to be approved for registration in the appropriate internship class. Additional Forms In additional to the aforementioned documents, each student will need to submit the following documents during midterm and final evaluation: Video and/or audio recording Supervisor Evaluations Student Evaluations of Supervisor Student Site Evaluations Student Self-Evaluations Internship Time Logs 20 August 28, 2015

If, for any reason, a student should need to send any material to their professors during the term that relates to clients, to comply with HIPAA regulations, students must send the material via a secure mail service through which the progressive location of material can be tracked, such as Federal Express, UPS, or a US Postal Service tracked mail system such as Express or Priority Mail. Certified Mail is insufficient. The material must include a disclosure statement attached stating the following: This package and its contents are confidential and private. The contents are for the intended recipient ONLY. If received in error, please call (your name and phone) and return this package to (your address) and postage will be paid by addressee. Site Supervision Students will regularly interact with their site (local) supervisor for guidance and planning related to their internship activities. This is especially important if emergent situations arise that requires immediate attention by the student and/or the supervisor (e.g., suspected suicidal ideation of a client). It is important for students to remember that their local supervisor(s) will provide the greater part of their supervision during the on-site aspect of internship. As such, it is critical that the student seek out and obtain the services of well-trained and highly qualified local supervisors. During the semester preceding internship, it is important that students seek out a supervisor with an appropriate license (e.g., LPC, LMFT, LCSW, etc.) or certification (Pupil Personnel Services, Post-Graduate Professional, etc.). Site supervisors do not have to physically be present at the clinical or school site for the internship field experience though this is ideal. Local supervisors must provide an average of one hour of individual or triadic face-to-face supervision on a weekly basis. Students may have to pay for this supervision, and this is a cost the student is expected to bear. Site Supervisor Requirements (CACREP 2009, p. 14) NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to know the standards of their respective state board to make sure their supervisor is qualified. Site supervisors must meet the minimum requirements as set forth by the Board of Counseling for their specific state. In the Virginia Board of Counseling, all on-site supervisors must be licensed by their respective state board (e.g., Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or Medicine), or licensed as a School Counselor by the respective Board of Education for their state. Sites without a licensed supervisor will not be allowed to serve as internship sites. Given that different states have varying requirements for direct/indirect hours and supervision hours, it is the responsibility of the student to know the standards of their respective state board to make sure their supervisor is licensed and qualified to supervise. Internship faculty supervisors will be communicating with site supervisor(s) on a regular basis, in order to coordinate supervision and provide the most meaningful and helpful supervision experience for their students. For online programs, the faculty supervisor will contact the site supervisor by telephone two (2) times during the semester; once at midterm and once prior to final evaluations concerning the student s overall progress, specific issues or concerns. Faculty members in the on campus program will conduct field visits a minimum of once per semester. Students must receive weekly individual and/or triadic (no more than two supervisees to one supervisor) supervision provided by a licensed, approved local supervisor; per CACREP 2009 standards. The preference for individual or triadic supervision differs by state so students will need to review the standards of their respective state counseling board or department of education. 21 August 28, 2015

Faculty Group Supervision During the Internship, students will also participate in regular, scheduled group supervision sessions in a classroom format. Group supervision involves a tutorial and mentoring relationship between a member of the counseling profession and more than two counseling students (CACREP, 2009, p. 62). Group Supervision in the classroom cannot exceed 12 students per one faculty member or teaching assistant. Internship students can count three (3) hours of faculty group supervision every other week towards group supervision. For on-campus students, this will be time spent in the classroom. For online students, this will be accomplished using an online classroom in Blackboard. This requirement is part of our program s commitment to meeting or exceeding the CACREP master s level standards and guidelines. These standards must be upheld. If any reference is made regarding an individual, group, family, or student(s) during an on-campus class or as a posted commentary in the online classroom, the internship student must ensure that the identity of the individual, group, family, or student is kept confidential. This can most easily be accomplished by avoiding the use of individuals names, or by indicating that individuals names are fictitious. This is an important compliance issue with HIPAA, AACC, and ACA regulations. This goes beyond what HIPAA requires (e.g., not using student names), but the Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling believes it is the best practice to preserve anonymity at all costs. Recording/Live Observation Instructions Two (2) video/audio recording are required for Internship sequence in community settings. Students pursuing counseling in public/private school settings are required to complete one video/audio recording. If the student s site does not allow video or audio recording, students may have their site-supervisor sit in on their sessions and complete the Live Observation Evaluation form. Instructions for Students Missing Hour Requirements Students who fail to meet the hour requirements during a respective semester of internship will be required to complete the balance of the hours during the next semester. All students who fail to meet the necessary hour requirements for internship must complete an Extension of Internship Form. Depending on the number of clinical hours needed the student may also have to register for one or more credit hours of COUN 579 Seminar in Clinical Training. If a student is currently enrolled in an internship course and finds him/herself short in total or direct hours at the end of the semester, he/she will be allowed to also enroll in the next internship course the following semester along with COUN 579 as described in "Category 1-3 in the tables below. This means that a student could potentially be enrolled for four (4) or five (5) credit hours of Internship in a given semester. The following applies to students who have not met their total or direct counseling requirements for internship: Master s Level Conditions requiring Additional Internship Hours CATEGORY 1: If a Master s level student has 100 or less total hours (out of 300) And / Or 40 or less direct hours (out of 120) to CATEGORY 2: If a Master s level student has 101-200 total hours And / Or 41-80 direct hours left to complete by the end CATEGORY 3: If a Master s level student has more than 200 total hours And / Or More than 80 direct hours left to complete CATEGORY 4: If at the end of COUN 579 the student still has over 100 total hours And / Or 22 August 28, 2015

complete by the end of the semester for either Internship A or B, he/she is not required to enroll and pay for additional credit hours. of the semester for either Internship A or B, he/she must enroll and pay for one (1) credit hour of COUN 579 (Seminar in Clinical Training). by the end of the semester for either Internship A or B, he/she must enroll and pay for two (2) credit hours of COUN 579 (Seminar in Clinical Training). More than 40 direct hours to complete in an Internship A or B, he/she must continue to reenroll in COUN 579 as described in 1-3 above until all Internship requirements are satisfied. IV. Forms and Policies When completing practicum/internship paperwork, contracts, evaluations, etc., please visit the appropriate pages on the Regent University website to access the needed forms. MA PRACTICUM: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcou/cs/practicum/index.htm MA INTERNSHIP: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcou/cs/internship/index.htm 23 August 28, 2015